Contents | Index

The Tosefta

The Tosefta (Aramaic = "additional") was additional teaching and commentary on the oral law produced by rival rabbinic schools but never incorporated into the Mishnah or Talmud. Though not included in the Mishnah or Talmud, this "additional" teaching is often referred to in discussions of the oral law. Like the Mishna, it was compiled by the Tannaim. Many of its teachings, called Baraitot, do not appear in the Mishna; others are merely elucidations or alternative versions of Mishnaic material. It contains a larger percentage of haggadic material than does the Mishna. The Tosefta is an independent work and has been made the subject of commentaries.